Lens marker



Oct. 31, 1939. J. BRENNER 2,1 16

LENS MARKER Filed Aug. 12, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l NT UR .EIY I ATTORNEY Oct. 31, 1939. L BRENNER 2,178,516

LENS MARKER Filed Aug. 12, 1937 Sheets-Sheet 2 .INVENTUR Jud? .BY

TTURIIEY Patented Oct. 31, 1939 PATENT OFFICE was manna Jack L Brenner, Utlca, N. Y., asaignor to Sharon Optical Company, Inc., Geneva, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 12, 1937, Serial No. 158,779 Claims. (CL 101-41) This invention relates to improvements in a device for stamping or marking either a flat, concave or convex surface of a lens or analogous object.

5 In the usual method of marking a lens, three dots are printed in line across a surface of the lens substantially coincidental with the optical axis of the lens. These dots are formed by means of a corresponding number of resiliently mounted pins operated by a suitable lever mechanism in conjunction with a lens holding device or chuck and an ink well or pad. These dots serve as reference points in the laying out and gauging of the lens. When the lens is to be drilled or cut for iii edging. it is desirable to draw a straight line across the surface of the lens extending through the dots. This latter operation has heretofore been accomplished by placing a ruler or straight edge across the lens in alignment with the three dots and then drawing the line with a pen. This manner of marking is very unsatisfactory owing to the difilculty of drawing a line accurately over the curved surface of the lens and of making a full, clear, clean-cut line with pen and ink on The main object uf this invention is to produce an instrument which is simple in construction and operation, whereby a line or other indicia may be quickly and easily printed on the smooth surface of a lens or other similar object.

Another object is to provide an instrument of the above mentioned class which will apply a line or other indicia to the lens surface with equal efficiency whether the surface is flat, concave or convex in outline or general configuration.-

Other objects and advantages pertaining to the specific construction of the machine will more clearly appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan of a machine embodying the various features of this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine illustrated in Figure 1.

' Figure 3 is a detail horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken in the plan of the line 3-4, Figure 2.

Figures 4 and 5 are detail sectional views taken respectively on lines 4-4 and 5-5, Figure 3.

Figures 6 and '7 are detail horizontal sectional views illustrating my novel printing device in operative engagement with a concave surface and a convex surface respectively of a lens.

Figure 8 is a top plan of a machine illustrating a modified form of my device.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view taken 5 substantially on line Ill-ill, Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on line ii-I I, Figure 8.

The structure shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawings comprises a base I having a ver- 10 tically disposed standard 2 extending upwardly from one end thereof, and a substantially horizontally disposed bracket 3 projected from the opposite end for supporting a box 4 adapted to contain an ink pad 5, as indicated in Figure 2. l5

The box I is provided with a lid or cover 6 hingedly connected, as at I, to one side of the box.

The standard 2 has secured thereto a lens holder or chuck 9, which may be of any suitable construction, for supporting a lens, as L, in a vertical plane above the base I. The chuck 9, as shown, comprises a vertically disposed frame l0 connected at its lower end to the standard 2 as by bolts H. The upper end of the frame I0 is 25 provided with an aperture l0 extending therethrough and a plurality of horizontally disposed resilient posts I2 of soft rubber or equivalent material, having their outer ends projecting a uniform distance from the inner surface of the 30 frame ill for receiving and supporting the lens L at one side of the frame in alignment with the aperture It. A clamp I3 is hingedly connected, as at M, to the frame 10 at one side of the posts l2. This clamp extends outwardly from the 35 pivot l4 a relatively short distance to provide a finger piece l5 arranged in cooperative spaced relation to a similar finger piece It made integral with the frame ill. The clamp l3 also extends inwardly from the pivot l4 and is provided with 40 a pair of spaced resilient fingers ll adapted to engage the lens L at opposite sides of the horizontal center thereof. The clamp fingers I! are yieldingly urged toward the posts l2 for maintaining the fingers in engagement with the lens 45 by a spring l8 coiled around the pivot pin l4 with the ends thereof engaging the finger pieces l5 and I6, as illustrated in Figure 3.

The marking device comprising the novel feature of this invention includes a carrier frame 5 20 pivoted at one end to the base I by a pin or shaft 2| mount-ed in an upwardly extending boss 22 connected with the base I a short distance inside of the standard 2, so that the frame 20 may swing about a horizontal axis at right angles 55 to the longitudinal center of the base I and chuck I. The upper end of the frame 24 is provided with a bifurcated head 22 arranged at one side of the frame and in which is iournaled a shaft or spindle 24 connected to a drum or holder 24. The drum or holder 25 is provided with a slot 2| extending longitudinally therethrough. A pair of movable supports or arms 24 are pivotally connected at one end by pins 21 in the slot 25' in longitudinal spaced relation to each other and at equal distance either side of the vertical plane passing through the chuck 3 centrally of posts l2 and aperture 10'. These supports or arms extend outwardly from the slot 25' toward the lens chuck 3 and have the outer ends thereof pivotally connected by pins 23 to space lugs or ears 23 secured to respective ends of aflexible platen 30 composed of spring steel, brass or the like.

The platen 30 is normally curved from the arms 28 toward the chuck 3, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 and has secured to substantially the center thereof, one end of a pin 3| which extends rearwardly from the platen into a diametrically disposed aperture 32, formed in the drun. 25 to extend through the slot 25' substantially midway between pins 21. The pin 3| may be secured to the platen 33 by any suitable means, and for this purpose the forward end of the pin is reduced in diameter to extend through a corresponding hole 30 provided in the platen and has the forward end thereof upset, as illustrated in Figure 4. The pin 3| is slidably received in the aperture 32 for maintaining the platen 30 in symmetrical relation with the pivots 21 and at the same time permit ready flexing of the spring from an outward convex position, as illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 6, to an inward concave position as illustrated in Figure 7.

The outer or forward convex side of the platen 33 has secured thereto a die member 33 composed preferably of rubber or other flexible or elastic material. This die member 33 may be secured to the platen 30 by any suitable means, as glue," cement or the like. The die 33 has the indicia, which in this instance is in the form of a raised ridge 34 moulded thereto to provide a gauge line extending longitudinally of the die 33 and platen 30. In addition to the longitudinally extending ridge 34, the die is provided with a centrally disposed, transversely extending ridge 35 bisecting ridge 34. The die may, as shown, be provided with two additional transversely disposed ridges 35' arranged at opposite sides of the centrally disposed ridge 35. The end ridges 35' are spaced from the central ridge 35 a distance substantially equal to the distance the end marking pins of a conventionally constructed lens marking device are from the centrally disposed marking pins. It will thus be seen that when the die 33 is brought into engagement with the surface of a lens or the like, a straight line will not only be stamped upon said surface but the die will also stamp relatively short lines across the main line at the center of the lens and at opposite sides of said center. Instead of a line or lines, it will be obvious that letters, figures or other indicia may be formed on the outer surface of the die 33.

The relation of the shaft 2| to the ink box 4, chuck I and spindle 24 is such that when the frame 24 is swung about the shaft 2| as a pivot, the drum 25 will be moved from a position in front of the chuck 9 to a position over the box 4, and in order to automatically position the die 33 in cooperative relation with the chuck and box at these positions of the frame, I have secured to the spindle 24 a gear member 31 which is mounted upon the spindle between the head members 23, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. The gear member 31 is secured to the spindle 24 by a pin 42 so as to rotate withsaid spindle and to also cooperate with the inner positioned head member 23 for maintaining the drum 25 against axial displacement.

In meshing engagement with the gear member 31 is a toothed rack 38 which is slidably received within a tubular arm 39 pivotally secured to the base I by a pin 40 connected with said base intermediatethe shaft 2| and bracket 3. A spring 4| mounted within the arm 39 has one end connected with the pin 40 and the other end thereof connected to the rack member 38. The spring 4| is normally tensioned so as to hold the frame 23 and the marker platen 30 in an intermediate position below the plane of a lens mounted in the chuck 3. The toothed rack 38 is held in operative engagement with the gear member 31 by means of a back rest 44, as shown in Figures 1 and2.

It will now be evident that when the frame 24 is rocked toward the box 4, the spring 4| will be under compression, and when moved to its marking position said spring will be under tension, thereby producing full rocking movement of the platen 30 from one extreme position to another as limited by the engagement of the pin 42, which is' extended outwardly at opposite sides of gear 31, with a stop pin 43 secured to the frame 20.

The frame 20 is rocked about the shaft 2|, in this instance by means of a rock arm 45 secured to a shaft 46 journaled in a boss 41 connected with the base I intermediate the pin 40 and bracket 3. The arm 45 has a finger piece 41 connected with the outer or free end thereof whereby the arm may be manually moved about the axis of the shaft 46. The arm 45 is connected with the frame 20 by a link 43 which is pivotally connected at its ends with said frame and arm.

In order that the cover 6 for the box 4 may be automatically moved to the open position during the movement of the frame 20 and platen 30 toward the box 4, I have provided a link 50 pivotally connected at one end, as at 5|, to one side of the cover. The link 50 is provided with an elon gated slot 50' in the opposite end thereof which slidably receives therein a screw 52 screw-threaded in an arm 53 connected with the end of the shaft 46 opposite the arm 45.

The operation of my novel lens marking device will now be understood to be substantially as follows: i

As hereinbefore stated, the platen 30 is normally curved outwardly from the end pivots 24 toward the chuck 9 and the curve of the platen when in its end position will be of a shorter radius than the curve of any lens or other surface that may be marked, so that the central portion of the platen 30 or die 33 will come into contact with the surface to be marked first and then the adjacent side portions of the die will be progressively moved into contact with the surface as the platen continues to move toward the work. This is true whether the surface is concave, flat or convex in outline. In other words, after the lens L has been properly positioned in the chuck 3 in any suitable manner not herein necessary to 11- lustrate or describe, the frame 20 may be first moved from the normal intermediate position thereof as determined by the action of the spring 4|, downwardly toward the box 4. As the head 23 of the frame and the platen 30 carried thereby approaches the box 4, the link 50 will be actuated by the arm 53 to open the cover or lid 6. At the same time, the drum or holder 25 will be rotated in the head 23 by the action of the rack 38v upon the gear 31 to bring the platen into such position, that the die 33 may engage the ink pad 5 contained in the box 4. Inasmuch as the surface of the die 33 is of convex form, it will be evident that the central portion of the die will engage the pad first and remaining side portions of the die may be readily brought into contact with the pad by a continued rocking of the arm 45 toward box 4 to produce a slight pressure upon the frame 26. During this additional swinging movement of the frame toward the box 4, there will be no relative swinging movement of the platen 36 with respect to the frame 20, due to the engagement of one of the stop arms 42 with the stop pin 43. After the die 33 has thus been inked, the frame 20 is swung upwardly about the shaft 2! as an axis to the vertical position thereof. During this upward swinging movement, the cover 6 will return to its normal closed position so as to maintain the box 4 normally closed to prevent evaporation or drying of the ink in the pad 5. Furthermore, the platen 30 will be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction by the rack 68 and gear 31 until the other stop arm 42 is brought into engagement with the pin 43, whereupon said platen Will be maintained in substantially right angular relation with the upper portion of the frame 20, or in substantially a horizontal plane when said frame is in the vertical position.

Assuming now that the surface of the lens, or other object supported in the chuck 9 to be engaged by the die 33, is of convex form as illustrated in Figure 6, the central portion of the die will first engage the central portion of the lens, and as the frame 2|] and platen 30 continue to move in a direction toward the lens, the end portions of the platen will be flexed outwardly or forwardly to bring corresponding portions of the die into engagement with the adjacent portions of the lens surface. This flexing ofthe platen will be readily accomplished due. to the pivotal connection of the arms 26 with said platen and the drum or holder 25, and the degree of flexing of the arm will be relatively slight, depending upon the amount of curvature of the concave surface engaged by the die. If however, the surface to be engaged is of convex form as illustrated in Figure '1, the flexing of the platen and die will be considerably more than when marking a concave surface. However, the platen will be readily flexed in marking the convex surface by engagement, first, of the central portion of the die'with the central portion ofthe surface, and then the movement of the arms 26 readily permit flexing of the platen until the surface thereof to which the die 33 is connected assumes a concave form corresponding to the curvature of the convex surface being marked. During this flexing of the platen and die, these members will be maintained in substantially symmetrical relation with the pivots 21 and with the surface of the work to be marked by the co-action of the pin 3! and drum 25.

The structure shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive is adapted more particularly to be used in place of the conventional lens marking device having three or more yieldingly supported marking pins. In using the structure of the instant application, the lens surface will obviously not only be provided with a line extending across the surface thereof from substantially one edge to the other in predetermined relation with 'the optical axis of the lens, but the cross ridges 35 and 35' will cooperate with the straight line ridge 34 in indicating the position of the center of the 'lens and predetermined spaced portions thereof.

In the device shown in Figures 8 to 11 inclusive of the drawings, I have illustrated a structure adapted more particularly for marking the axial line of the lens after the optical center and/or axis thereof has been determined. In other words, as hereinbefore stated, after a lens has been marked with a center dot and two outside dots by means of a conventional lens marker, or in any other suitable manner, the device shown in these figures is then used for producing a line across the lens in predetermined relation with the dots. This structure comprises a base 55 having a frame 56 of substantially H formation pivotally connected to the central portion thereof by a shaft 51, fixedly mounted in a pair of upwardly projecting bosses 58 connected to said base 55. The upper or outer end portions of the frame rotatively receive therein a shaft 59 to which is secured in any suitable manner the drum or holder 25.

This drum or holder 25 carries the platen 30 which is connected thereto by the arms 26 and pin 3| in the manner hereinbefore described for the structure shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive. One end of the shaft 59 extends outwardly beyond the adjacent side of the frame 56 and has fixedly secured thereto a pulley 66 which is arranged in alignment with a similar pulley 6| secured to one end of the shaft 51, which also projects beyond the corresponding side of the frame 56. Trained about the pulleys 60 and 6! is a belt 62 which is secured to said pulleys by pins 63. The frame 56 is provided with a handle 64 by which said frame may be swung about the shaft 51 as an axis. During this swinging movement of the frame, the drum or holder 25 will be rotated a corresponding degree owing to the pulley 6i being maintained in a fixed position with respect to the shaft 51 and base 55, while the pulley 66 will be rotated by the belt and thereby produce a corresponding rotation of the shaft 59 and holder 25.

A box 4 is secured to the base 55 adjacent one end thereof for containing the ink pad 5. A lens support 66 is mounted at adjacent the opposite end of the base for supporting the lens in cooperative relation with the platen 30 when the frame is moved downwardly toward said end portion of the base.

This lens support, as shown more clearly in Figure 11, comprises a case 61 which is rotatably connected with the base 55 by a centrally disposed pin or stud 68 connected with the case 61. A washer 69 may, as indicated in Figure 11, be mounted upon the stud 68 intermediate the case 61 for maintaining said case in slidably spaced relation to the upper surface of the base 55. Mounted in the case 61 is a pad 10, composed of rubber or other resilient materials, adapted to be engaged by the lens for frictionally maintaining said lens in co-axial relation with the stud 68.

Associated with the lens support 66 is a protractor 12, which in this instance is in the form of a substantially semi-circular ring, composed of in concentric relation with the holder 66. The

ring I2 is provided with a protractor scale It in the upper surface thereof which has its axes or center, coincident with the axis of the lens support it and is graduated from to "180" from a horiaontal line passing through its center in parallel relation with the shaft 51 to enable the operator to read the angle or degree of inclination of the optical axis of a lens from its horizontal or Ieometrical axis.

In using the device shown in Figures 8 to 11 inclusive, the cover 8 for the box 4 is manually moved to an open position when it is desired to apply the ink to the die 33, and the platen II and die it are swung about the axis of the shaft ll into engagement with the ink pad contained in the box 4 and then into engagement withthe lens L carried on the lens holder l8. Prior to inking the die 88, a lens which has previously been marked with three or more dots on the surface thereof to deflne the optical axis or some axis at a predetermined angle to the optical axis of the lens is placed upon the lens holder 88, with the dots coinciding with the axis marker or line X provided on the pad It.

It will now be observed that if the horizontal axn, that is, the axis of the lens appearing before the eye when the lens is positioned in a suitable ophthalmic mounting which is to be marked on the lens by the die 33 is to be different from the optical axis, the lens may be rotated by rotation of the case 01 so as to bring the line X, and thereforethe optical axis of the lens, into predetermined angular relation with the die n as determined by the protractor 12 so that the line stamped on the lens by the die will be at a given angle to the optical axis of the lens.

During the engagement of the die 33 with the lens, it will be understood thatthe platen II will be flexed in the manner hereinbefore described in the structure shown in Figure 1 to 5 inclusive, after the central portion of the die it has engaged the central portion of the lens to progressively move the outer side portions of the die into engagement with the lens surface. Furthermore, it will be understood that the frame It may be yeldingly maintained in its uppermost vertical position by any suitable means, as a spring ll, coiled upon the shaft 51 with one end thereof in engagement with the boss 58 and the other end in engagement with the frame Iii.

Although the construction and operation of the devices shown are particularly simple, practical and emclent, it is evident that various changes may be made in the details of the construction thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a precision marking device of the class described, a platen composed of a relatively thin substantially flat piece of resilient material capable of being flexed transversely of the opposed surfaces thereof only, said platen being normally curved in one direction of said flexing movement thereof to provide the platen with a normally convex work surface, indicia provided on said working surface, and supporting means for the platen including a carrying member and holding elements operatively engaging spaced portions of said member and the platen adapted to maintain said platen in an extended position with respect to said arrying member so that said platen is free to be flexed by pressure engagement thereof with the work to be-marked to bring said work surface from the normal convex position thereof at one side of a flat medial plane to a concave position at the opposite side of said plane whereby the indicia may be brought intov cooperative engagement with either a concave, a substantially flat or a convex work surface for markingthe same by relative movement of the platen and work into pressure engagement with each other. 2. In a precision marking device of the class described, a platen composed of a relatively thin substantially flat piece of resilient material capable of being flexed transversely of the opposed surfaces thereof only, said material being inherently curved in one direction of said flexing movement independently of any external force to provide the platen with a normally convex working surface, indicia provided on said working surface, and supporting means for the platen including a carrying member, and holding elements operatively engaging spaced portions of said member and the platen adapted to maintain said platen in an extended position with respect to said carrying member, said holding elements having movement with respect to each other and being of such a character that said platen will freely flex as it is brought into engagement with the work to be marked so that said working surface may be moved from the normal convex position thereof at one side of a flat medial plane to a concave position at the opposite side of said plane to bring the indicia into cooperative engagement with either a concave, a substantially flat or a convex work surface for marking the same by relative movement of the platen and work alone into pressure engagement with each other.

3. In a precision marking device of the class described, a platen composed of a relatively thin substantially flat metallic spring member capable of being flexed transversely of the opposed surfaces thereof only, said platen being normally curved in one direction of said flexing movement thereof to provide the platen with a normally convex work surface, indicia provided on said convex work surface, and supporting means for the platen including a carrier, and holding elements pivotally connected to the platen and to said carrier to swing about relatively flxed axes on said carrier, said holding elements being adapted to maintain said platen in an extended position with respect to the carrier so that said platen is free to be flexed by pressure engagement thereof with the work to be marked to bring the work surface from the normal convex position thereof at one side of a flat medial plane to a concave position at the opposite'side of said plane-, whereby the indicia may be brought into cooperative engagement with either a concave, a substantially flat or a convex work surface for marking the same, and a separate member secured to the platen and slidably supported by the carrier for maintaining the platen in symmetrical relation with said flxed axes during the flexing of said platen.

4. In a lens marking device, a lens holder, a platen comprising a thin, flat elongated spring, said spring being normally curved longitudinally in one direction to provide the same with a convex work surface, indicia provided on said convex work surface for marking a lens on the lens holder, supporting means for the platen including a carrier member arranged at the concave side of the platen in spaced relation thereto, holding elements spaced from each other longitudinally of the platen connecting said platen to said carrier, said holding elements being so constructed and arranged that the carrier will be spaced from the lens holder and lens when said lens is engaged by the indicia on the platen, and

means for producing relative movement of the carrier and the lens holder to bring the lens and platen into and out of cooperative engagement.

with each other. 1

5. In a lens marking device, a supporting member, a platen comprising a substantially flat normaly arcuate spring member, means including a pair of arm's pivotally connected with the ends of the spring member and with the supporting member for connecting said spring member to the supporting member in spaced relation thereto so that the spring may freely flex toward and from the supporting member from one side. of a flat medial plane to the opposite side thereof, a guide member connected with the spring and supporting member for maintaining said spring against transverse and excessive longitudinal movements during the flexing thereof, and indicia connected to the outer surface of the spring adapted to be progressively moved during said flexing of the spring into marking engagement with a surface of a lens.

JACK L. BRENNER. 

